Izviri v Bistri

Bistra Springs

Useful Information

Location:	At Grad Bistra. A1 exit Vrhnika, left on 409 and again on 642 to Borovnica. Bistra is about 4 km from Vrhnika.
Open:	no restrictions. [2020]
Fee:	free. [2020]
Classification:	Karst spring
Light:	n/a
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

The river Ljubljanica, which flows through Slovenian Capital Ljubljana, is the river with seven names. A complex system of caves and poljes is the source of this river. It is called Ljubljanica when the water finally reaches the Ljubljana Marsh (Ljubljansko barje). Here is a huge number of springs, where the limestone ridge ends and the impermeable flysch plain begins. The four most important springs of Ljubljanica are Retovje, Močilnik, Bistra, and Lintvern.

Bistra was of importance because of its springs, so it is easy to understand why Grad Bistra (Bistra Castle) was built here. The water is used to fill the moat of the castle and to operate a mill. The river formed by the main spring and several small springs is called Bistra. It flows into the Ljubljanica after a few kilometers. The castle is also of interest because it houses the Tehniški muzej Slovenije (Technical Museum of Slovenia).